Archaeologists from Shandong University discover a fossil finger bone of Homo neanderthalensis in Southwest France's Dordogne province. [Photo/sdu.edu.cn]

An archaeological team comprising researchers from Shandong University and University of Bordeaux recently discovered two fossil finger bones of ancient humans at an excavation site of the Tourtoirac palaeolithic rock shelter in Southwest France's Dordogne province.

The archaeologists identified one fossil as a finger bone of Homo neanderthalensis. The other fossil is likely a bone of Homo sapiens.

They also found fossils from archaeological strata which indicated that the fossils are from around the Mid-late Gravettian period.

This discovery makes the rock shelter a key site to studying the evolution of pre-Gravettian culture in the Last Glacial Maximum period.

Recent research in molecular biology has revealed more information about exchanges between Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens. The discovery of more fossil evidence proving the coexistence of Homo neanderthalensis and Homo sapiens in Tourtoirac will play an important role in the study of cultural and genetic exchange between the two species of ancient humans, said a member of the team.

This is the first year that SDU and the University of Bordeaux are cooperating in excavation works.

Two fossil finger bones of ancient humans in the strata profiles of the Tourtoirac palaeolithic rock shelter in Southwest France's Dordogne province. [Photo/sdu.edu.cn]